Mark Casci

Lawyers for a Leeds boy who cheated death after a swimming pool accident while on holiday with his family have agreed to settle his compensation claim against Spanish hoteliers for £145,000.

Callum Wingate, now aged 10, was given no chance of recovery when he was pulled, apparently lifeless, from the swimming pool at the Playa Blanca hotel, in the Majorcan resort of S’illot, on July 29, 2012.

Callum lay “dead” for several minutes after sinking to the bottom of the swimming pool, having strayed into the deep end unnoticed.

It took nearly half an hour for medics to revive him, and he lay in a coma for weeks.

Spanish doctors told Callum’s family his chances of survival were virtually non-existent and even advised them to switch off his life support machine.

However, after returning to the UK, the youngster began to defy the predictions by slowly regaining movement and speech. He has now returned to lessons at school and can run, talk, read and write.

Through his dad, Robert Wingate, Callum sued two Spanish hotel companies and their insurer, claiming that his near-fatal accident was down to failings at the resort.

The Spanish companies have now offered to settle Callum’s claim for Euros 200,000 - about £145,000. In a claim form lodged at the High Court in London, the family’s lawyer, Costas Andrea, has confirmed that they wish to accept that offer.

The document said: “The three defendants have offered to pay the sum of Euros 200,000 in full and final settlement of the claim, and the claimant wishes to accept this sum”.

He goes on to say that the High Court’s approval of the settlement will be required.